SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
downtown fort myers Large crowds expected for Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival Downtown Fort Myers is on higher alert as this weekend’s 4th Annual Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival is expected to draw large crowds.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral neighborhood growing frustrated over debris piles Pounds of trash and debris are blowing through a Cape Coral neighborhood, through the streets, into canals and every which way.
Inside a Lee County special corrections program More than 3,000 bags of trash, 19 interstate projects, nearly 100 citizen requests and over one hundred truckloads of trash—that’s the work done by nonviolent offenders in Lee County, who are doing their part to make our county more beautiful.
FGCU NCAA implements rules for checking pitchers for foreign substances The NCAA will soon send out an instructional video on in-game foreign substance checks for pitchers.
Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol In the new year, there’s a new call to warn Americans about the negative effects of alcohol.
Family of Charlotte deputy killed during traffic stop releases statement The family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz is breaking their silence.
Southwest Florida battles the Flu Flu cases are skyrocketing in Southwest Florida, making this busy season even more challenging.
FORT MYERS SWFL 19-year-old hurt in New Orleans terrorist attack releases statement One of the young women from Fort Myers hurt during the New Orleans New Year’s Eve attack is speaking out for the first time.
Bonita Bill’s to close Jan. 5 prior to pending $5.5M sale HM Restaurant Group, owners the adjacent Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and Dixie Fish Co. restaurants, has been named as the buyer.
naples Beloved Naples Zoo giant anteater, Dee Gee, passes away The Naples Zoo is mourning the loss of a beloved male giant anteater who had given nearly 10 years of joy to visitors.
Charlotte County Property Appraiser accepting applications for partial property tax refunds The Charlotte County Property Appraiser is now accepting applications for partial 2024 property tax refunds.
FORT MYERS 2 wanted for stealing an e-bike from Fort Myers business parking lot Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two men who stole an electric bike.
Hurricane Ian damages in Punta Gorda exceed $6M Multiple city-owned properties were either destroyed or damaged by Category 4 winds.
north fort myers Lee County man arrested for causing nearly $5K worth of property damage The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of causing nearly $5,000 worth of property damage to a home in North Fort Myers.
SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
downtown fort myers Large crowds expected for Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival Downtown Fort Myers is on higher alert as this weekend’s 4th Annual Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival is expected to draw large crowds.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral neighborhood growing frustrated over debris piles Pounds of trash and debris are blowing through a Cape Coral neighborhood, through the streets, into canals and every which way.
Inside a Lee County special corrections program More than 3,000 bags of trash, 19 interstate projects, nearly 100 citizen requests and over one hundred truckloads of trash—that’s the work done by nonviolent offenders in Lee County, who are doing their part to make our county more beautiful.
FGCU NCAA implements rules for checking pitchers for foreign substances The NCAA will soon send out an instructional video on in-game foreign substance checks for pitchers.
Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol In the new year, there’s a new call to warn Americans about the negative effects of alcohol.
Family of Charlotte deputy killed during traffic stop releases statement The family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz is breaking their silence.
Southwest Florida battles the Flu Flu cases are skyrocketing in Southwest Florida, making this busy season even more challenging.
FORT MYERS SWFL 19-year-old hurt in New Orleans terrorist attack releases statement One of the young women from Fort Myers hurt during the New Orleans New Year’s Eve attack is speaking out for the first time.
Bonita Bill’s to close Jan. 5 prior to pending $5.5M sale HM Restaurant Group, owners the adjacent Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and Dixie Fish Co. restaurants, has been named as the buyer.
naples Beloved Naples Zoo giant anteater, Dee Gee, passes away The Naples Zoo is mourning the loss of a beloved male giant anteater who had given nearly 10 years of joy to visitors.
Charlotte County Property Appraiser accepting applications for partial property tax refunds The Charlotte County Property Appraiser is now accepting applications for partial 2024 property tax refunds.
FORT MYERS 2 wanted for stealing an e-bike from Fort Myers business parking lot Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two men who stole an electric bike.
Hurricane Ian damages in Punta Gorda exceed $6M Multiple city-owned properties were either destroyed or damaged by Category 4 winds.
north fort myers Lee County man arrested for causing nearly $5K worth of property damage The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of causing nearly $5,000 worth of property damage to a home in North Fort Myers.
Chris Patricca defends herself during a school board meeting. (CREDIT: WINK News) A Southwest Florida school board member is facing heat again but this time from her peers. Lee County school board members are pointing the finger at Chris Patricca for using district staff after hours to send out a video of her defending herself. The school board meeting ended at 9:45 p.m., her comments, along with a YouTube link, were sent out to the district at 9:59 p.m. Almost immediately after the meeting. For around six minutes of Tuesday night’s school board meeting, board member Chris Patricca pointedly accused her former opponent Jaqueline Perez. “My opponent has engaged in a vicious and relentless campaign to smear my name, my reputation, and the body of work I have engaged in as a member of this board,” said Patricca during the meeting. But Patricca had a warning for Perez. She claimed Perez had taken video of her children at school to use in what Patricca called ‘her offensive and bizarre videos.’ At the meeting, Patricca said, “when you go after my kids, mama bear comes out, and I will do everything in my power to protect them. I will protect them with every fiber of my being.” WINK News did not find those videos on social media, so we asked Jacqueline Perez about them. “Someone sent me a video of Patricca not wearing a mask and in that email that I received the video, her son was playing football and he had to complain to the coach but he was ill for two or three days with possible COVID,” said Perez. Either way, Patricca’s comment’s didn’t sit well with her board members. School board member Gwyn Gittens said during the meeting, “to me it was an embarrassment, I think that we should have called for point of order because some of the verbiage was not things that we allow the public to say.” Shortly after, Patricca and board member Cathleen Morgan got up and walk out of the meeting. Gittens said after they left, “I find it interesting that everyone’s leaving so I guess there’s no appetite make sure that we are all doing what we’re supposed to do.” This is not the only controversy Patricca is involved in. Recently she made controversial comments about Guatemalan students being fascinated with plumbing, and both members of the public and fellow board members say she’s used her position to benefit kids in her district at the expense of minority students. WINK News has reached out to both Patricca and Gittens for comment. Neither has provided a response.